Target (TGT) Q2 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates
While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Target (TGT) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended July 2026, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.
For the quarter ended July 2026, Target (TGT) reported revenue of $26.54 billion, up 5.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.46, compared to $2.05 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $26.13 billion, representing a surprise of +1.57%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +6.96%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.30.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.
Here is how Target performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
- Comparable store sales - YoY change: 3.8% versus 2.5% estimated by eight analysts on average.
- Number of stores - Total: 2,019 versus 2,008 estimated by six analysts on average.
- Retail Square Feet - Total: 253,826.00 Msq ft versus 252.64 Msq ft estimated by four analysts on average.
- Retail Square Feet - 170,000 or more sq. ft: 49,045.00 Msq ft compared to the 49.10 Msq ft average estimate based on three analysts.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales: $25.95 billion versus $25.64 billion estimated by five analysts on average.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales- Beauty & household essentials: $3.64 billion versus $3.52 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +7.2% change.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales- Food & beverage: $5.99 billion compared to the $5.76 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +7.2% year over year.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales- Hardlines: $3.89 billion compared to the $3.6 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +10.6% year over year.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales- Other: $48 million compared to the $49.17 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +11.6% year over year.
- Net Sales- Credit card profit sharing: $139 million versus $130.73 million estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +3.7% change.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales- Household essentials: $4.62 billion compared to the $4.58 billion average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +4.4% year over year.
- Net Sales- Merchandise sales- Apparel & accessories: $4.09 billion versus $4.24 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +0.1% change.
View all Key Company Metrics for Target here>>>
Shares of Target have returned +10.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).